When Android 8.0 Oreo introduced picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, the obvious beneficiary of the new feature was Google's first-party YouTube app. Unfortunately, Google decided at the time that the advantage of nested playback was best locked behind a YouTube Red subscription. Based on recent developments, though, that may be set to change. We've seen several reports that some videos are allowing for PiP playback without a YouTube Red subscription.

You might expect there to be a catch, and you'd be right. After all, the feature was previously tied to a subscription, and companies don't like to give things away if they can charge for them instead. In this case, the lone "gotcha" is that content owners can set their videos to disallow PiP playback. Based on reports, that is the case for many (if not most) music videos.

Per-video notification that PiP has been disabled.

The test also appears to be limited in size and server-side. One of our tipsters (we ❤ you) reported using YouTube v13.16.55 when they observed the behavior. But in our own testing with that version of the app, we were unable to trigger PiP on a free account. It's a cliché when it comes to Google updates and tests, but YMMV.

PiP playback on an account without YouTube Red.

There are multiple reports at venues such as Reddit for Red-less PiP, with the new behavior appearing to be live in several countries. As you would expect, you'll need Android 8.0+ to be able to use it, since PiP requires operating system-level support.

Success isn't guaranteed, but if you'd like to give it a shot, most reports with the information indicate this version of YouTube (or later) may be required.

Many more users without any paid subscription (Red/Premium/whatever-you-wanna-call-it) are now able to play non-music YouTube videos as picture-in-picture even when they switch out of the app. However, it seems that this is limited to those in the US only at the moment. Thanks, Michael B, Lewissd, Jordan!

Just hours after seeing non-paid YouTube users across the US start getting PiP functionality, Google has made the change official. In the company's YouTube support documentation, it now explains:

Note: Picture-in-picture is currently only available in the U.S. on Android mobile devices running Android version 8.0 Oreo or above. PiP mode for videos that contain music content is only available for YouTube Premium members.

I haven't switched back to the light theme ever since dark theme became a feature on my iPhone. I don't understand why the feature wasn't simultaneously released on both platforms

naduh

meh. pip is another gimmick feature that freezes the app or my pixel. i had to turn pip off.

Jeff Coover

Something is wrong then. My Pixel never has had any issues with pip. Plus some don't see it as gimmicky. I use it a lot between YouTube and Netflix. It's very nice to have a little floating video and be able to do other stuff at the same time. I wish the video was resizable but that my only complaint with it.

Max

I don't use it much, but I agree that it works fine here on OG Pixel XL, running Oreo and now P.

pfmiller

PIP has had problems on my Pixel C as well. It can get into a weird state where it thinks the video is still full screen even though it isn't and I can't access the process switcher or stop the video. Need to reboot.

naduh

it would freeze the app and sometimes the pixel if the video stopped while on pip and/or video stopped while on pip and screen is off and maybe with the added actions of going back to youtube. it happened a few too many times and end up turning pip off.

rustygh

google tried to stop us from seeing the video in PIP if you are not a red subscriber, they also tried to stop the audio from playing in the background unless you have red.

Both failed on Samsung, I can do PIP and Samsung's picture window and found a way to play sound in the back ground using multi-window. Oh, and it doesn't freeze. I love that someone said a native google thing froze their pixel! LOL

Marc

"Samsungs picture window" is not picture in picture though.

rustygh

Agreed, and I'm still on the fence as to which is better?
I use PIP for the maps, and the Samsung window for most other stuff as it gives me more control.

Marc

I guess Sammys version is a bit like split screen, works great on their phones as most of them are phablet size.

I'm not sure what the laughing smiley is about? I'm sure your not the only one who knows about modded apps or even SkyTube.

Eddy N. Lopez Frias

It's just laughing about people waiting for this when they could just get it right now.

Good_Ole_Pinocchio

I had to roll back my YouTube update because I think the persistent notification is broken. Anyone else having this issue?

When playing a video in the background there's usually a persistent notification allowing you to control playback. Now there's no notification at all, so you have to go back into the app to do anything.

I'm not a big consumer of videos either, so not useful to me... but I get it, if I watched videos a lot it would be great.

SpasilliumNexus

It's "repercussion", and it's obvious that you do not know what the word means, at all.

It seems like you just found out about the word, and wanted to use it anywhere.

AlejandroZ

Repercussion means that it's so important that the media is bringing it up often, which is the case here. I don't see how PIP on a small-sized screen is that useful, unless you can't use background playback (try YouTube Vanced in such case).
I think MOST people only have Android devices with screens not larger than 6"

I welcome this as I live in Canada - no YouTube Red available, even if I wanted it here.

Lars Jeppesen

You do

Random!

I've been doing fine with iYTBP and split screen

Christopher Bement

Got it last night and was very confused. Confirmed dead sexy though.

AlejandroZ

Automatic PIP on background playback is annoying. Most of the time I don't want to keep watching the video when I minimize YouTube on my phone but I also don't want the sound to stop.
There should be a gesture so that the phone goes to the main menu and activates the floating window, for example: drag two fingers upwards on the video image.

Good_Ole_Pinocchio

You could just turn off picture in picture for that app

C64

Already got it with YouTube Vanced 👍

matteventu

I was expecting:

*But only for the users of YouTube Premium

Lol

kjohnson04

I've had it since I bought my Pixel 2XL. Thought it was a bug at first, and then it stuck around. Handy. Had it worked on my Nexus 6 (still doesn't), I might have kept it as a daily driver a little longer.

King_Android

I've had this on my Pixel 2XL for over a week now. I thought it was an Android 9.0 feature or I would have reported this then.

pr1nyc1

I am so glad the V30+ finally go the PIP feature with YouTube.

Will ⚽

I wish you could resize the floating window because it's way too small.